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Sunday, May 20, 2012

The Sweet Hand of the White Rose (2010)

Davide
Melini’s horror short, THE SWEET HAND OF THE WHITE ROSE, brings to attention the
avoidable tragic loss of life from irresponsible driving habits. Alcohol, relationship
problems, and cell phone distractions are the root of a tragedy that ends up feeling almost Shakespearean in nature. Normally it would be very difficult to sympathize with
the lead character, Mark (Carlos Bahos),
for letting such petty issues ruin two lives, but after watching him
desperately pray at an altar, Mark’s gut wrenching regret for something that
could’ve easily happened to anyone ends up being heartfelt.

Despite having a
sad story, the film starts off with a sexy and rockin’ start in a crowded bar with
tabletop dancers and a rock band with an appealing female vocalist. The club scenario
is the backdrop to the story’s setup, but it also gives Melini a chance to show some directorial diversity. The club is something
that may not have been essential, but it still gives the intro a nice pizazz
and is a neat contrast to the movie’s main theme.

Eventually, the loud music
decreases in volume and the sounds of chatter become more eminent as the
attention is taken off the band and onto Mark, sitting alone while smoking and
taking back a shot while looking troubled. Immediately it becomes apparent that
his disappointed girlfriend, Mary (Leocricia
Sabán), has tracked him down, and instead of explaining himself, Mark takes
the more dramatic approach of walking out on his upset girlfriend.

While driving home after leaving the bar, the story
becomes a little more curious when the movie abruptly shifts to a different
protagonist after it is suggested that Mark struck something with his car. We next focus on a young girl (Natasha
Machuca), and the narrative progresses in a manner that eventually brings both
protagonists together.

My favorite element that stands out the most is the
music (byChristian Valente),
which is put to good use and helps augment the different emotions that Melini’s film guides us through. The
bombastic assault of symphonic metal in the graveyard, like the rock music in
some of Argento’s films, may not be
to everyone’s taste, but I nonetheless found myself excited.

Something reminiscent of Jean Rollin’s THE IRON ROSE is when Mark ends up
finding himself stuck in graveyard purgatory and in a panic. Things get remarkably tense and eerie
with the sound of a kick drum, as the ghost/zombie form of The White Rose (Machuca) arises. The scene rocks and
still manages to be suspenseful.

Just when everything seems set up for a grim
conclusion, Melini adds an additional
facet, replacing the more typical vengeful ghost story with something that
depicts the transition into death as something that can be warm and beautiful, a
new beginning that is very forgiving and welcoming.

The Sweet Hand of the White Rose (2010): full length video (16 minutes and 47 seconds)

1 comment:

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